Born of Gilded Mountains

By: Amanda Dykes

Narrated by: Sandy Rustin

A lost treasure. A riddled quest. The healing power of friendship.

Legends are tucked into every fold of the Colorado mountains surrounding the quaint town of Mercy Peak, where residents are the stuff of tall tales, the peaks are taller still, and a lost treasure has etched mystery into the very terrain.

In 1948, when outsider Mercy Windsor arrives after a scandal shatters her gilded world as Hollywood’s beloved leading lady, she is determined to forge a new life in obscurity in this time-forgotten Colorado haven. She purchases Wildwood, an abandoned estate with a haunting history, and begins to restore it to its former glory.

But as she does, her every move tugs at the threads of the mountain’s lore, unearthing what became of her long-lost pen pal Rusty Bright, and the whereabouts of the infamous Galloping Goose Railcar No. 8, which vanished years ago—along with the mailbag it carried, whose contents could change the course of countless lives. Not to mention the fabled treasure that—if found—could right so many wrongs.

Among the towering mountains that stand as silent witnesses, the ghosts of the past entangle with the courage of the present to find a place where healing, friendship, and hope can abide amid a world forever changed.

©2024 Amanda J. Dykes (P)2024 Recorded Books

Great!

Loved everything about this sweet story and the great characters. They draw you in and make you curious about what is next.

What a treasure of a book!

I really enjoyed this book of BEST friends who met as pen pals!! Sometimes laughter, sometimes tears, lots of mystery surrounding a lost mail bag and its lost Flying Goose transport. What an epic story! What a treasure and a pleasure to listen!

mild level mystery but very interesting

story line was refreshening different from a typical chic book. main characters developed and train mystery was delightful.

Beautiful Prose, Beautiful Story

Dearest Amanda,
Your book is stunning. Absolutely incredible. As with every other book of yours I’ve read, I was immediately transported to a new place, where my soul was immersed in another’s life, in the ups and downs, ebbs and flows of living. And I loved every single minute of the experience.
The beginning of the relationship between Rusty and Marybeth was the sweetest thing ever. I loved how these two little girls, each hurting in their own ways, found solace and a kindred spirit through their letters. The letters are so cute, and it’s really fun how you get to know the girls and their history through the occasional letter excerpts.
As adults, their relationship goes through a lot of heartache and mistakes, but I absolutely loved how they slowly learned to trust each other again and became the sisters they had been as children.
There were so many twists and turns and unexpected things in this story, that I stayed on the edge of my seat throughout the entire thing. The mysterious elements of your book were so intriguing. I never did figure out a single thing, or guess what would happen. Also, the entire town of Mercy Springs is kind of my favorite and I would dearly love to visit and attend the town’s events and the theatre and sit in the little town store.
I am genuinely, wholly in love with your book. Your lyrical narrative and the way you weave all the lives of these people together is truly beautiful. Your books are not just words on a page, they are fully immersive experiences, and I can’t wait to pick this one up again and enjoy the place that is Mercy Springs once again.
Your devoted fan,
Jessica

AUDIOBOOK REIVEW: I really liked this narrator! Her voices were really good, and inflections/emotions was great. The narration was very engaging. I’d listen to this narrator again.

*TW/CW: some death, including in mines (all previous to book); dangerous fire; grieving; secrets and mystery

**Many thanks to @bethanyhousefiction @austenprose for the copy. A positive review was not required and all thoughts are my own.

Beautiful!

You know when you pick up a book by Amanda Dykes, you are going to be swept away into a beautiful story. Her writing is lyrical and brings her story to life. Her characters are so realistic and deep. Mercy and Rusty are simply amazing characters. They faced hard situations. I loved the second chance thread. This story was simply beautiful. It’s a must read!